Girdle with waistline area control

ABSTRACT

A girdle is disclosed which provides for waistline area control and generally includes a body encircling and molding region terminating at an upper portion in a plurality of generally convergent marginal edges extending upwardly with respect to the body encircling region and inwardly with respect to each other to provide a plurality of open spaces between upwardly projecting areas. A transversely extensible and preferably transversely elastic band of material is superimposed substantially circumferentially along the upper portion of the girdle. The band is secured to the upwardly projecting areas along the marginal edges of such projecting areas to provide zones of lesser modulus of elasticity between said upwardly projecting areas.

United States Patent [191 LoCascio [54] GIRDLE WITH WAISTLINE AREA CONTROL [75] Inventor: Jack J. LoCascio, Bayonne, NJ.

[73] Assignee: International Playtex Corporation,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 207,495

52 US. (:1. ..l28/533 [51] Int. Cl ..A4lc H00 [58] Field of Search ..2/236, 237, 221; 128/533, 567-571, 575, 578, 580

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,515,142 6/1970 Black ..128/533 3,515,141 6/1970 ....l28/533 3,515,143 6/1970 ....l28/533 2,552,368 5/1951 ....128/533 3,612,062 10/1971 128/535 7/1912 Freedman ..2/22l Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Att0rneyStewart J. Fried e't'al.

[57] ABSTRACT A girdle is disclosed which provides for waistline area control and generally includesa body encircling and molding region terminating at an upper portion in a plurality of generally convergent marginal edges extending upwardly with respect to the body encircling region and inwardly with respect to each other to provide a plurality of open spaces between upwardly projecting areas. A transversely extensible and preferably transversely elastic band of material is superimposed substantially circumferen'tially along the upper portion of the girdle. The band is secured to the upwardly projecting areas along the marginal edges of such projecting areas to provide zones of lesser modulus of elasticity between said upwardly projecting areas.

20 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures GIRDLE WITH WAISTLINE AREA CONTROL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to girdles and similar foundation garments and more particularly to improvements in the upper portion or waist region thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved waist region for a girdle particularly a high-waisted girdle having alternately spaced regions of double-walled construction which provide without the use of stays, the necessary wall stability to mold the waist of the wearer and reduce unsightly bulging, with such areas interspersed by regions of lower modulus which deter the tendency of the waist portion of the garment to roll over and facilitates the placing of the garment on the body without the use of releasable zippers. The term modulus is to be used herein as it is commonly utilized in the elastic fabrics part of the textile industry. Namely, it is the modulus of elasticity, which is measured as the ratio between the stretching force applied to the fabric and the percent elongation. The more resistance to stretch a fabric has, the higher its modulus value.

With the advent of fabrics having elastic properties, much emphasis has been directed to the implementation of the characteristics of these materials to provide, with a maximum of comfort, a garment which selectively reproportions the flesh of a wearer to a desired degree. With the relatively high degree of stretch inherent in these fabrics, it has been possible to eliminate closures such as zippers in such garments, with the garments being able to expand sufficiently to be put on and removed from the body.

However, where it is desired to extend the desirable reproportioning features to the waistline area, major problems are encountered. In order to reproportion or firm up the waistline area, material having a relatively high modulus should be applied. Further, since the body tapers upward from the relatively wider dimensions of the hips, a garment having at waist controlling feature is perforce, narrower at the waist. With this narrower circumferentialrequirement for waist control, girdles attempting to provide waist control have been constructed with zippers or other securements extending downward from the waist vertically along the side of the girdle to provide a means for opening up the girdle so that it may fit onto the body. Aside from the general aesthetic undesirability in the use of zippers; e.g., the showing through of the silhouette of the zipper upon the surface of sheer or close fitting outerwear, the emplacement of zippers in a garment is undesirable for other reasons.

The fabrication becomes more expensive not only in terms of the cost of the zipper but further in terms of the sewing operation. The zipper itself includes nonstretch bindings, which when emplaced in a garment, provides a non'stretch zone in the garment thus altering the balance of the garment, i.e., one side of the garment (generally overlying the hip) includes the zipper and the other side does not.

Aside from the basic problem of providing a means where a waist controlling garment could be constructed to fit on the body, an additional, and just as critical a problem presents itself in terms of providing a body reproportioning band at the waist area. By and large, most girdles, including waist controlling or waist proportioning structure, include a relatively wide band of horizontally stretchable material which is affixed to the basic girdle structure by a row or line of stitching. Such waistbands are highly susceptible to curling or rolling over especially when a wearer sits down. It should be noted that in sitting or bending forward the length of the body along the front of the body shortens and the back from waist to shoulders elongates. Thus, a band along the waist had a predilection to curl in the front and gap away from the body along the spinal cord. The majority of prior workers have sought to overcome this problem by the use of stays or bones in the waist area to prevent curling. As can no doubt be appreciated, stays are undesirable for a number of reasons. Aside from the stays not preventing the gapping in the rear of the garment as heretofore described, the stays require non-stretch pockets in the waistline area and further cause discomfort when sitting or bending.

Further, even with the use of stays, the line of stitching attaching the waistband to the girdle provides a ready pivotal line or fulcrum for the waistband, thus giving the waistband a predilection to roll over.

Other designs have eliminated the stays and zippers in favor of providing elastic inserts in the waist line regions of the garment to provide desired release characteristics to enlarge the waist line region of the garment when the wearer experiences bending movements and when the garment is being placed on the body. Typical of the girdles employing elastic inserts in the waist line region are the girdles shown and described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,515,141; 3,515,142; and 3,515,143 to Black wherein triangular elastic insert regions are sewn into appropriately shaped areas of the waist line portion of the garment which have been cut out of a doubled over portion of the upper margin thereof.

Although the general principle of providing selective release characteristics for the waist region is a good one, the techniques employed in the prior art (for example in the aforementioned Black patents) to implement this design are cumbersome, costly and timeconsuming to manufacture and complex. For example, in a waist portion shown for example in FIG. 19 of U. S. Pat. No. 3,515,142, to Black wherein a plurality of alternately located triangular elastic inserts are provided, the handling and sewing problems associated with such multiplicity of pieces are necessarily costly and complicated. Moreover to provide sufficient flesh restraining wall stability in those portions of the waist region which are disposed between the elastic inserts,

Black requires the additional step of folding over the upper margin of the garment to establish a doublewalled construction. In establishing the aforedescribed double-walled construction by a folding over process, a line of stitching is required around the girdle which can have undesirable effects on anatomical control regions used in conjunction with the main body encircling region of the girdle. For example, it is common, and in fact illustrated in the Black patents, to employ abdominal and/or derriere control means having stretch characteristics primarily in the vertical direction. In the Black type of construction, the existence of the aforementioned line of stitching and/or doubled layer construction secured across the anatomical control means, can have the undesirable effect of partially negating the vertical stretch characteristics thereof.

It should be noted that the problem of anatomical control in the waistline area has presented itself not only in the area of girdles, but further in the area of longline brassieres which extend to the waistline area. For example, in U. S. Pat. No. 3,606,891 issued Sept. 21, 1971 to Marcario et al., and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention there is disclosed a dorsal panel construction for a longline brassiere in which selective control is incorporated along the control means in the waistline area. While the basic configuration therein described provides a marked advancement in the longline art, it should be noted that brassiere and girdle technology are not necessarily interchangeable. For example, longline brassieres include rear or front closure means, thus eliminating the problem of garment emplacement on the body. Further the angular disparity between the upper rib cage and the waist, of concern in a longline brassiere, is much less pronounced when compared with the disparity between the hips and the waist, which is the zone of concern in waistline control as presented in constructing a girdle.

Additionally, and as previously set forth, it is desirable in a girdle to have, if desired, the ability to provide selective vertical stretch areas along the abdominal and derriere regions, often times in combination with twoway stretch body panels. The stresses exerted on all these panels provides a related stress on the waistline area and thus providing problems of garment balance not present in brassiere technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contradistinction to the prior art, the instant invention establishes the desired release and shaping characteristics of the waist portion of a girdle by providing a girdle in which the main body encircling and molding region terminates at an upper portion thereof in a plurality of upwardly projecting areas disposed thereabout, with each such area including a plurality of generally convergent marginal edges extending upwardly with respect to the main body encircling region and inwardly with respect to each other to thereby further establish a plurality of open spaces of predetermined depths alternately spaced between the upwardly projecting areas. Superimposed on the upwardly extending areas and secured along at least the marginal edges thereof is a band of material of appreciable wall stability, such as horizontally extensible elastic. The end result of this extremely simple construction is a waist region comprising areas of double-walled construction which provide, without the use of stays, the necessary wall stability to mold and reproportion the waist of the wearer and reduce unsightly bulging, with such area interspersed by regions of lower modulus due to the absence of any superimposition of the girdle body material, which deter the waist region from curling or rolling over and further provides sufficient releases so as to allow placement of the garment on the body without the need for a side zipper. Most advantageously the invention is employed in a high-waisted girdle in which the waist portion thereof projects above the normal waist line region of the wearer.

In a preferred embodiment, the improved waist region hereof is employed in conjunction with a girdle including supplementary anatomical control means (such as reinforcement paneling for the abdomen and/or derriere) having stretch characteristics primarily in the vertical direction. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the line of stitching employed to aid in the securement of the aforementioned band of elastic material to the upstanding areas of the body encircling region is not secured across such reinforcement paneling and therefore has no restricting effect on the vertical stretch characteristics thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a girdle comprising a body encircling and molding region terminating at an upper portion thereof in a plurality of upwardly projecting areas each including a plurality of generally convergent marginal edges extending upwardly with respect to said body encircling region and inwardly with respect to each other thereby further establishing a plurality of open spaces of predetermined depths alternately spaced between the upwardly projecting areas; and a band of material secured to the upwardly projecting areas along the marginal edges thereof, providing zones of lesser modulus between said upwardly projecting areas.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide such a girdle which establishes predetermined release characteristics in the waist portion thereof to deter the tendency of the waist portion to curl or roll over especially when the wearer sits, stoops or bends.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide such a girdle which facilitates the placement of the garment on the body of the wearer.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide such a girdle which is more economical and easier to manufacture than prior girdles intended to provide similar control.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved waist region for a girdle having anatomical control means associated therewith.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an improved waist region for a high-waisted girdle.

These and other objects of the instant invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following specification, claims and drawings which form a portion hereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a girdle constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the girdle of FIG. 1 as worn.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the girdle shown in FIG. 1 taken along the lines 33 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the girdle shown in FIG. 1. taken along the lines 44 thereof.

FIG. 5-is a sectional view of the girdle shown in FIG. 1 taken along the lines 5-5 thereof.

FIG. 6 is a partial front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a girdle having a waistband constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the girdle shown in FIG. 6 taken along the lines 7-7 thereof.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the girdle shown in FIG. 6 taken along the lines 8-8 thereof.

FIG. 9 is a partial front perspective view of yet another embodiment of a girdle having a waistband constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Turning to the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate corresponding elements and primed notations are employed to designate corresponding portions of alternative embodiments, there is shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, a girdle constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention. Before going into detail, it is to be appreciated that the present invention is herein described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as applied to an open girdle for exemplary purposes only, and that this invention is not to be deemed limited thereby. The present invention is equally applicable to other similar foundation garments, such as panty girdles, corsets, back supports, or the like, and even to garments generally for use by both men and women, such as swim suits, trousers, shorts, pants, or the like.

The girdle 10 comprises a main body encircling region 12 which is adapted to confine and shape the body of the wearer from the waist down through the hips. As well known in the art, and as suggested in FIG. 1, the body encircling region may comprise a single piece of material or if desired, the body encircling region may comprise a plurality of parts appropriately sewn together. As suggested by the crossed double-headed arrows 14, the body encircling region in the embodiment is comprised of material having two-way stretch characteristics, for example a power net material, or a laminated material such as the type of U. S. Pat. No. 3,489,154 or an appropriate woven material. Of course, the aforementioned are only exemplary of the type of materials which may be employed depending on the characteristics desired to the main body portion of the garment.

As will be discussed in greater detail, the girdle includes anatomical control means in the form of an abdominal control panel 16 sewn along its side edges 18 to the main body encircling region 12. As known in the industry, and as illustrated by the arrow 20, the stretch characteristics of the control panel 16 are primarily in the vertical direction thereby facilitating stretching movements while at the same time properly molding the flesh of the abdomen.

As its upper end (as viewed in FIG. 1), the body encircling region 12 terminates in a plurality of upwardly projecting areas 22 spaced circumferentially thereabout. As shown, the areas 22 are integral portions of the main bodyencircling region 12 and therefore consist of the same material. Of course, e areas 22 may differ depending upon the components of the main body encircling region 12.

Each of the areas 22 includes a pair of generally convergent marginal edges 24 and 26 which extend generally upwardly with respect to the body encircling region 12 andinwardly with respect to each other. For the high-waisted girdle of FIG. 1, the marginal edges 24 and 26 extend upwardly from an imaginary base line 28 which corresponds generally to the waist line location of the wearer and to a line of stitching 30 to be discussed in further detail.

It will be appreciated that for the girdle 10 of FIG. 1, the generally curved marginal edges 24 and 26 thereby establish a scalloped configuration which necessarily establishes a plurality of generally inverted triangular open spaces 32 of predetermined depths alternately spaced between the upwardly projecting areas 22. Preferably, and for reasons to be further discussed, the depth of the open spaces32 which are at the front of the girdle and adjacent the upwardly projecting area 22 into which the control panel 16 projects (in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 9), are not as deep as the other spaces 32 about the remaining circumference of the girdle.

Superimposed upon the upwardly projecting areas 22 and secured thereto by a line of stitching 34 following the marginal edges 24 and 26 is a band 36 of a material, such as elastic. Because it is not overlayed with the body material such band 36 has a lower modulus than such areas of superimposed material. More preferably, the band 36 has stretch characteristics only in a horizontal direction as indicated by the single doubleheaded arrow 38.

As can be seen in the Figures, the band 36 has a width at least equal to the depth of the deepest open space 32. Thus all of the generally triangular open spaces 32 now become overlayed by the correspondingly shaped portions of the band 36. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the band may have a width greater than the width of the area 22 inches and actually extend thereabove.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ends 40, 42 of the band 36 are sewn upon each other whereby it will be appreciated that the band 36 has a total length approximating the circumference of the body encircling region 12 at the upper portion thereof. Alternatively, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, the length of the band 36 may be less than the circumference of the body encircling region 12'. In such a case, it is desirable to locate the gap in the band 36 at the rear of the garment.

As thus far described, it will be appreciated that in all of the embodiments disclosed, the end result is an extremely simplified waist region comprising areas of double-walled construction (comprising the upstanding areas 22 superimposed upon correspondingly shaped areas of the elastic band 36) which provide the primary wall stability to mold and redistribute the waist of the wearer, with such double-walled areas being interspersed by those regions of lower modulus which fill the triangular spaces 32 to provide the waist region with the high release characteristics which deter roll over and at the same time facilitate garment placement on the body. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the manufacture of these various embodiments of the instant invention is extremely simple. Thus, once the regions 22 have been defined, the only step required in the instant invention is to secure the band 36 in overlying relationship with respect to the areas 22.

FIG. 2 is intended to illustrate the manner in which the improved waist region of the instant invention functions when the girdle 10 is on the body. Thus the double-walled portions of the waist region, comprising the upstanding areas 22 superimposed upon correspondingly shaped areas of the band 36, tend to restrain, mold and redistribute the fleshy waist region of the wearer, especially in the high-waisted garment illustrated, while the release areas, comprising those portions of the elastic band 36 which fill in the inverted triangular open spaces 32, provide the waist region with a limited degree of extensibility (indicated by the horizontal arrows 38) which deter waist band curl over especially when the wearer bends or stoops for example in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. Also, and as mentioned previously, the predetermined release characteristics built into the waist region of a girdle constructed in accordance with the instant invention materially facilitates garment placement on the body.

Considering FIGS. 1 and 9, it was previously mentioned that it is not uncommon to provide a girdle with anatomical control means such as an abdominal control panel and/or a derriere control panel. As noted, the control panels 16 and 16" are illustrative of such control means and as noted, have stretch characteristics primarily in the vertical direction to achieve certain predesired functional results. As seen, the control panels 16 extend above the waist-line region 28 of the body encircling portion 12 and up into the upstanding area 22 which is centrally located in the front of the garment. In accordance with this aspect of the instant invention, it is to be noted that the line of stitching 30 which aids in securing the band 36 to the upstanding areas 22 does not extend across the abdominal control panels 16 (compare for example FIGS. 4 and 5). Accordingly, the performance of the control panel 16 is in no way affected because the girdle includes the improved waist construction of the instant invention. Further the absence of such lines of securement eliminates a pivot line thus aiding in deterring roll or curl.

In this connection, it was noted previously that the depth of the triangular open spaces 32 which are adjacent the upstanding area 22 into which the control panel 16 projects is actually less than the depth of the remaining open spaces 32. Thus in FIGS. 1 and 9, it will be seen that the triangular open spaces 32 which are closest to the control panels 16 and 16" do not extend all the way down to the waist line portion of the garment 28 corresponding in turn to the location of the line of stitching 30. It is to be noted that in a girdle which has been provided with abdominal control means having stretch characteristics primarily in the vertical direction, it is generally desirable to minimize the horizontal stretch characteristics permitted in the abdominal region of the girdle. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the provision of the reduced depth open regions 32 adjacent the abdominal control panels 16 has the effect of reducing the horizontal stretch characteristics of the waist region of the garment in that area (the abdominal region) where horizontal release characteristics are least desired.

In FIG. 10, there is illustrated yet another embodiment of the instant invention wherein the band 36" actually extends below the waist-line portion 28" corresponding in turn to the location of the line of stitching 30". In this embodiment, it will be appreciated that the tendency of the waist region of the garment to curl out in the clockwise direction illustrated by the arrow 50 will be resisted to a certain extent by that portion 52 of the band 36" which extends below the fulcrum defined by the line of stitching 30".

In operation it should be noted that each of the embodiments described provides at the upper portion of a girdle an extensible collar region having selective release areas adapted to allow for a predetermined outward flaring which not only allows for the emplacement of the girdle on the body with a portion of the girdle extending upward beyond the normal waistline area of the wearer, but additionally provides in such area means to mold and reproduction flesh without untoward pressures, or the need for auxiliary means to provide wall stability such as stays or the like.

Further the construction of the collar region not only is accomplished in a highly economic manner through the implementation of the basic body material of the girdle in combination with a single piece (if desired) of elastic material, the construction is readily adaptable for use with body materials of varying degrees of stretch characteristics and/or modulus with minor variations in affixation providing a ready means for allowing the forces of the body material to properly perform their desired function without exerting pressures on the waistline region to cause distortion, curling, etc.

For example, girdles constructed of knitted spandex of a given construction provide a different degree of horizontal and vertical forces than a girdle constructed of a woven fabric, and a girdle constructed of woven material exert a different degree of horizontal and vertical forces than a laminated stretch composite. Further, auxiliary panelling for greater molding and shaping may be provided not only at the abdomen and derriere regions, but may further be found along the hips and thighs of a girdle.

Each of these factors affects the forces which are exerted along the waistline region. Yet, it should be noted that the instant invention provides a means for the integration of the body material into the waistline region without having the stretch characteristics of the body material adversely affect the performance of the waistline control. Where, for example, a body fabric having a high degree of vertical elasticity is shaped along its upper edge as heretofore described and, the elastic band heretofore described is superimposed horizontally about the major circumferential upper portion, the relatively high degree of vertical elasticity exerts a downward force on the elastic band. However, by leaving the lower edge of such band substantially unsecured to the body fabric, the major degree of securement of the band to the elastic being is along the upwardly projecting areas of the body material along the marginal areas thereof. In such manner, the vertical forces of the body material are more evenly distributed and more smoothly dissipated along the hip region without acting as a vertical force of sufficient degree to cause the waistline region to curl.

Where the body material exerts lesser vertical forces such as in certain types of knitted powernet which although generally described as having two-way stretch in fact have only true stretch in one direction, the lower circumferential edge of the elastic band may be stitched to the body material along the major portion of its extent such as by use of zig-zag or other stitching which will still allow the elastic band to expand horizontally. This same lower extent stitching may also be employed in composite fabrics which by their nature more nearly conform to the body of the wearer since the more natural molding action of the basic girdle material to the body acts to relieve the vertical strain along the waistline of the girdle.

It should be noted that this additional line of stitching which may be effected along the line 30 of FIG. I is simply accomplished and does not add complexity to the manufacturing process.

Thus, as heretofore described the present invention provides a means readily adaptable for use in girdles of varying structure and material composition.

Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is preferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A girdle comprising;

a body encircling and molding region terminating at an upper portion thereof in a plurality of upwardly projecting areas each including a plurality of generally convergent marginal edges extending upwardly with respect to said body encircling region and inwardly with respect to each other to provide a plurality of open spaces of predetermined depths spaced between the upwardly projecting areas; and

a transversely extensible band of material extending generally circumferentially of said body encircling region, said band secured to said upwardly projecting areas along the marginal edges thereof, providing zones of lesser modulus of elasticity between said upwardly projecting areas.

2. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band has a uniform width at least equal to the largest of said predetermined depths of said open spaces.

3. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band is elastic and has its predominant elasticity in a direction circumferential of said girdle.

4. The girdle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said band has a length substantially equal to the circumference of said body encircling region at said upper portion of said body encircling region.

5. The girdle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said upwardly projecting areas extend above the waistline location of said body encircling region;

wherein said band is further secured to said upwardly projecting areas by a line of stitching along an imaginary base line of said upwardly projecting areas from which said marginal edges upwardly extend;

wherein said body encircling region includes a control region which extends above said imaginary base line into one of said upwardly projecting areas;

said line of stitching terminating at the intersections of said line of stitching and said control region; and

wherein the predetermined depth of some of said open spaces is less than the predetermined depth of other of said open spaces; wherein said some of said open spaces are located adjacent opposite sides of said one of said upwardly projecting areas into which said control region extends.

6. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band extends above at least some of said upwardly projecting areas.

7. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined depth of some of said open spaces is less than the predetermined depth of other of said open spaces.

8. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body encircling region includes a control region cooperating therewith, and some of said open spaces are located adjacent opposite sides of said control region.

9. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upwardly projecting areas extend above the waistline location of said body encircling region.

10. The girdle as claimed in claim 9 wherein said band is further secured to said upwardly projecting areas by a line of stitching along an imaginary base line of said upwardly projecting areas from which said marginal edges upwardly extend.

11. The girdle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said imaginary base line corresponds to the waistline location of said body encircling region.

12. The girdle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said band extends below said waistline location of said body encircling region.

13. The girdle as claimed on claim 10 wherein said body encircling region includes a control region which extends above said imaginary base line into one of said upwardly projecting areas;

said line of stitching terminating at the intersections of said line of stitching and said control region.

14. The girdle as claimed in claim 13 wherein the predetermined depth of some of said open spaces is less than the predetermined depth of other of said open spaces; and

wherein said some of said open spaces are located ad jacent opposite sides of said one of said upwardly projecting areas into which said control region extends.

15. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upwardly projecting areas are integral with said body encircling region.

16. The girdle as claimed in claim 15 wherein said marginal edges of said upwardly projecting areas effectuate a scalloped outline for at least some of said areas; and said band of material is secured to said upwardly projecting areas by a line of stitching which follows said scalloped outline.

17. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body encircling region is of two-way stretch material.

18. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band is secured to said upwardly projecting areas on the inside thereof.

19. A girdle comprising:

a body encircling region terminating at an upper portion thereof in a plurality of spaced apart scalloped areas; and

an elastic body encircling band of material, said band extending generally circumferentially about the upper terminus of said body encircling region, and overlying said scalloped areas along their inward face, said band being secured to said scalloped areas at least along the scalloped outline thereof said band extending across the intermediate spaced areas between the scalloped areas, and also overlying said scalloped areas.

20. The girdle as claimed in claim 19 wherein said scalloped areas extend above the waistline location of said body encircling region. 

1. A girdle comprising; a body encircling and molding region terminating at an upper portion thereof in a plurality of upwardly projecting areas each including a plurality of generally convergent marginal edges extending upwardly with respect to said body encircling region and inwardly with respect to each other to provide a plurality of open spaces of predetermined depths spaced between the upwardly projecting areas; and a transversely extensible band of material extending generally circumferentially of said body encircling region, said band secured to said upwardly projecting areas along the marginal edges thereof, providing zones of lesser modulus of elasticity between said upwardly projecting areas.
 2. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band has a uniform width at least equal to the largest of said predetermined depths of said open spaces.
 3. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band is elastic and has its predominant elasticity in a direction circumferential of said girdle.
 4. The girdle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said band has a length substantially equal to the circumference of said body encircling region at said upper portion of said body encircling region.
 5. The girdle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said upwardly projecting areas extend above the waistline location of said body encircling region; wherein said band is further secured to said upwardly projecting areas by a line of stitching along an imaginary base line of said upwardly projecting areas from which said marginal edges upwardly extend; wherein said body encircling region includes a control region which extends above said imaginary base line into one of said upwardly projecting areas; said line of stitching terminating at the intersections of said line of stitching and said control region; and wherein the predetermined depth of some of said open spaces is less than the predetermined depth of other of said open spaces; wherein said some of said open spaces are located adjacent opposite sides of said one of said upwardly projecting areas into which said control region extends.
 6. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band extends above at least some of said upwardly projecting areas.
 7. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined depth of some of said open spaces is less than the predetermined depth of other of said open spaces.
 8. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body encircling region includes a control region cooperating therewith, and some of said open spaces are located adjacent opposite sides of said control region.
 9. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upwardly projecting areas extend above the waistline location of said body encircling region.
 10. The girDle as claimed in claim 9 wherein said band is further secured to said upwardly projecting areas by a line of stitching along an imaginary base line of said upwardly projecting areas from which said marginal edges upwardly extend.
 11. The girdle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said imaginary base line corresponds to the waistline location of said body encircling region.
 12. The girdle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said band extends below said waistline location of said body encircling region.
 13. The girdle as claimed on claim 10 wherein said body encircling region includes a control region which extends above said imaginary base line into one of said upwardly projecting areas; said line of stitching terminating at the intersections of said line of stitching and said control region.
 14. The girdle as claimed in claim 13 wherein the predetermined depth of some of said open spaces is less than the predetermined depth of other of said open spaces; and wherein said some of said open spaces are located adjacent opposite sides of said one of said upwardly projecting areas into which said control region extends.
 15. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upwardly projecting areas are integral with said body encircling region.
 16. The girdle as claimed in claim 15 wherein said marginal edges of said upwardly projecting areas effectuate a scalloped outline for at least some of said areas; and said band of material is secured to said upwardly projecting areas by a line of stitching which follows said scalloped outline.
 17. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body encircling region is of two-way stretch material.
 18. The girdle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band is secured to said upwardly projecting areas on the inside thereof.
 19. A girdle comprising: a body encircling region terminating at an upper portion thereof in a plurality of spaced apart scalloped areas; and an elastic body encircling band of material, said band extending generally circumferentially about the upper terminus of said body encircling region, and overlying said scalloped areas along their inward face, said band being secured to said scalloped areas at least along the scalloped outline thereof said band extending across the intermediate spaced areas between the scalloped areas, and also overlying said scalloped areas.
 20. The girdle as claimed in claim 19 wherein said scalloped areas extend above the waistline location of said body encircling region. 